Incandescent gas-lamp.



No. 802,986. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

A. J. HOFMANN.

INGANDESGENT GAS LAMP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1905.

I lNVENTORl a fljfufmaqq, $1M

UNITED STATES PATENT FFTGE.

ADAM J. HOF MANN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

INCANDESCENT GAS-LAMP.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LADAM J. HOFMANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent Gas-Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in that class of gas lamps and burners known in the art as incandescent gas-lamps; and the invention relates more particularly to a novel means to be used with incandescent gas lamps and burners of the character hereinafter more particularly specified, which produces a swirling motion of the gas within and around the incandescent mantle of the lamp, causing the gas to burn upon the inner cylindrical surface of the mantle instead of upon the gas-sieve employed with incandescent gaslamps.

My invention has for its principal objects to provide, in connection with the main parts of an incandescent gaslamp, a novel gas-distributer, swirl-plate, or cap for the purpose of whirling the gas around the cylindrical surface of the incandescent mantle, practically forming an eddy with a vertical draft-passage therein, whereby a bright and strong light is produced and, furthermore, resulting in the removal of the burning gas directly from contact with the gas-breaking sieve employed with incandescent gas-lam ps, and consequently protecting the said sieve and the swirl-plate or cap from the burning gas to render the said sieve and cap almost indestructible.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel support for the mantle-rod, preferably in the form of a tapered tube which is open at both ends and in which the lower end portion of the mantle-rod is fixed, all being of such a construction that in case the mantlerod, which is made from easily-breakable materials, such as the rare-earth oXids, breaks off the broken-off portion of said rod can be easily forced from the said tube.

The invention has for its further objects cheapness of construction, ease of manipulation in assembling the parts, and such other novel arrangements and combinations of de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1905. Serial No. 249,537-

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

vices and parts whereby an efiicient and effectively-operating incandescent gas-lamp is the final result.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly mentioned will be evident from the following detailed description of my present invention.

My present invention consists, therefore, in the novel incandescent gas lamp and burner hereinafter more fully specified; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the several arrangements and combinations of devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully specified and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional representa tion of an incandescent gas-lamp and the at tachment which embodies the novel features of this invention, the lower end portion of the lamp being represented in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of my novel form of gas-distributer, swirl-plate, or cap, the same being represented as made upon an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same, said section being taken on line 2 2 in said Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of a modified form of gas-distributer, swirlplate, or cap, but still embodying the principles of my present invention.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates one of the usual forms of incandescent gas-lamps, comprising the usual socket 2 and neck 3 for attachment upon the end of a gas-pipe. Arranged within the said receiving-socket 2 is the lower end of a glass globe or bulb A, the latter being preferably provided with suitably-disposed air-holes 5, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Within the said neck 3 and socket 2 and concentric therewith is a centrally-disposed gas-duct 6, the duct 6 being preferably expanded, as at 7, and having an enlarged and cup-shaped end or member 9, provided with an open top and a perforated plate 8, substantially as shown. The said enlarged or cup-shaped end or member 9 is provided with an annular head 10, forming a suitable seat or rest for the purposes to be presently set forth. Fitted upon this enlarged or cup-shaped end or member 9 by being slipped in position thereon and having its lower marginal edge resting upon the said seat or rest is a gas-distributer, cap, or swirl-plate 11. This gas-distributer, swirlplate, or cap 11, which may be made of metal or any other suitable material, such as the oxids of the rare earths or the like, is preferably of the general configuration illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the same comprising a cylindrical body 12, having its lower end open and formed with a top 13. The said top 13 is provided with-any suitable number of radially-disposed openings or slits 14:, preferably of the marginal configuration shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the body portions 15 of the top which are contiguous to the one marginal edge of each opening or slit 14 extending upwardly and outwardly by being pressed or forced fromthe body of the'top or otherwise formed with the said body by being cast or molded therein, as may be-desired. These upwardly and outwardly extending portions, as will be clearly evident, provide the said gas-distributer, swirl-plate, or cap 11 upon the inner surface of its top 13 with gas-deflecting surfaces 16, from which the gas is deflected into the openings or'sjl'its 14 upon the outer curved surfaces formedby the said outwardly and upwardly extending body portions 15, with the result that the es caping gas will pass from the cap or distributer 11 with a swirling motion and forming practically a hollow cylinder of gas. The said top 13 is provided with a central hole or opening in which is suitably secured, preferably-in the manner shown, a downwardlyextending tubular support 17 open at itstwo ends and its interior tube portion beingmade with a taper having its smallest part at the lowest point of the support, as will be clearly evi dent from an inspection of Fig.- 3-of the drawings. "The purpose of this tapering tube 17 is to provide a central support for a mantle rod or post 18, which holds theusual mantle 19. The said mantle 19 is arranged in such a manher that its lower end surrounds thetop portion of the gas-distributer,swirl-plate, or cap-11 in the manner represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the eddy or hollow cylinder of gas will-whirl all around the mantle, where the gas will burn, when ignited, with thebest and most eficient results. The mantle-rod 18 being also made from the rare-earth ox-id-s, it will be evident that should it become broken by-accident and the broken part remain-in the tubular support 17 by removing the cap'll an instrument orthe like can be inserted in the lower open end of the said support 17 and the broken portion of the rod 18'readily removed. The cap 11 can then again bereadily replaced in its position upon the cup-shaped end or' rnember9 for the reception-of another mantle-rod. Near its lower end the said tubular'support 17 may be provided with an an nular shoulder 20 and a supporting washer or disk21, a cup-shaped screen or sieve 22 being 1 arranged within the-said cap 11 and held in place by means of said supporting washer or disk 21, as illustrated. This screen or sieve,

which is made of metal and is usual in constructions of incandescent gas-lamps, is for the purposes of breaking up the gas which has been mixed with the air coming through the inlets 23 in the neck of the burner.

In lieu of providing the gas-distributer, swirlplate','or cap 11 with radial slits or openings 14 the distributer'or cap 11 may be'made with ser'iesof radially-disposed holes or perforations 24:, as shown in the modification represented insaid Fig.4 of the drawings, the holes or perforations 24 in each series varying in size, those nearest the center of the cap being smallest in size and the holes increasing gradually in size toward the outer edge of the said swirl-plate or cap. In all other respects the construction of the said gas-distribu'ter, sw-irl'-plate, or cap and its action in distributing the gas in a swirling motion upon and around the cylindrical surface of the mantle is the: same as that described hereinabove 'andneed not, therefore, be further dwelt upon Ofcou-rse I am aware that some changes maybe made in the general arrangements and com-binationsof the devices and parts without departing from thescope of my present invention. 'Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations-of the devices and parts as described in the foregoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings; nor do I confinemyself to the exact details of the construction of any of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The'here'in-described gas-distributer consisting of a cup-shaped body open at the bottom and provided witha closed top having gas-distributing openings, said top being also provided with a centrally-disposed opening, a mantle-rod support provided with a tapering tubular po'rtion, said rod-support being arranged in'thesaid central opening and having its upperend secured tothe portions of into the hollow body of the gas-distributer,

' an annular shoulder surrounding the lower portion of said rod-support, and an upwardlyconcaved sieve in the hollow body of said gasdistributer, said sieve being supported by the said annular shoulder and having its outer marginal edge in engagement with the angular portion formed by the inner surfaces of the cylindrical side and the top of the gas-distribute-r, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described gas-distributer consisting of a cup-shaped body open at the bottom and provided with a closed top having gas-distributing openings, said openings being radially disposed, and said openings being narrowest near the center of the top and widening out toward the outer portion of the top, a gas-deflecting portion contiguous to each opening for producing a swirling motion of the gas in outward directions, said top being also provided with a centrally-disposed opening, a mantle-rod support provided with a tapering tubular portion, said rod-support being arranged in the central opening and having its upper end secured to the portions of said top which surround said central opening, so that said rod-support extends downwardly into the hollow body of the gas-distributer, an annular shoulder surrounding the lower portion of said rod-support, and an upwardly-concaved sieve in the hollow body of said gas-distributer, said sieve being supported by the said annular shoulder and having its outer marginal edge in engagement with the angular portion formed by the inner surfaces of the cylindrical side and the top of the gas-distributer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth abovel have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of March, 1905.

ADAM J. HOFMANN.

Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS. 

